Plans for new James Paget hospital revealed in Great Yarmouth
The proposed hospital will feature modern facilities and increased capacity.
Plans for the new James Paget hospital have been made public after the submission of a planning application to Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s proposal, known as ‘Future Paget,’ outlines a new hospital covering approximately 99,000m2 with around 600 inpatient beds.
The current James Paget hospital in Gorleston is scheduled for replacement as part of the national New Hospital Programme due to its construction using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). The hospital has been prioritised alongside The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
The hybrid planning application includes full planning approval for initial enabling works, such as a multistorey car park and new access roads, and outline planning permission for the hospital building itself, which will replace the existing facility.
The proposed hospital site is on hospital-owned land to the west of the current hospital. The design envisions a building ranging between three and ten storeys in some areas to ensure flexibility for construction in line with government requirements. The height of higher sections is set back within the centre of the site to minimise visual impact on nearby areas. Landscaping plans aim to enhance the healing environment and reduce disruption for surrounding communities.
The future hospital will include single en-suite bedrooms across all wards, providing modern standards of care. Public areas, corridors, and clinical spaces will be designed with safety, inclusivity, and accessibility in mind.
The plans also incorporate existing structures unaffected by RAAC, such as the Concept Ward and Community Diagnostic Centres, to create a hospital campus that retains valuable aspects of the current estate.
The Trust asked local residents, patients, and staff for feedback on the plans earlier in 2025. Concerns raised included the construction period's impact, the hospital's height and position, traffic, and access management. The feedback has been summarised in a report available on the James Paget website.
Jo Segasby, Group Chief Delivery Officer, commented on the milestone:
“Submitting planning application for the James Paget’s new hospital is a significant step forward for Norfolk and Waveney’s new hospital programme, which will deliver two state-of-the-art facilities in Great Yarmouth, and for The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
“The James Paget team have listened to the feedback from staff and patients, and local residents living close to the site, to understand their concerns and ideas regarding the new hospital. The proposed design is ambitious and makes the best use of the space available to deliver a new hospital for communities on the east coast, and we look forward to working closely with local people as we refine the design throughout the next stages of planning.”
The application can be accessed via Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s planning portal and further details are available on the James Paget website.